December 18, 2007

Half Of U.S. Adults Will Make Green New Year’s Resolution

Forty-nine percent of all American adults say they will make a green New Year’s resolution this year, according to the results of a poll released by marketing consultancy Tiller LLC.

Given a list of environmental lifestyle changes, reducing household energy usage was cited as the most likely to be undertaken in 2008, cited by 75 percent of respondents. It was followed by recycling more (74 %) and reducing the use of harmful household chemicals (66%). Carrying fabric bags to the supermarket (42%) and reducing one’s “carbon footprint” (43%) were the least frequently cited.

The survey found that, in general, the more involved or personally demanding an environmental responsibility, the lower the response.

The survey found that younger respondents were generally more focused on the environment than older Americans. Fifty-eight percent of Americans 18 to 24 said they would make a green New Year’s resolution for 2008. That compares with 50 percent of Americans 50 to 64 and 40 percent of Americans 65+.

Of those surveyed, 31 percent admitted to feeling guilty in recent years about not living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Women (36%) are more likely than men (26%) to feel “green guilt.”